SUICIDE WARNING
What is the Momo Challenge story, was it the WhatsApp ‘suicide game’ a hoax and how many deaths has it been linked to?
THE Momo "suicide game" has terrified parents and children alike, and even a creepy Baby Shark version has been doing the rounds on the web.
Here's all you need to know about the disturbing online trend and how to keep your kids safe.
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What is the Momo Challenge and is it real or a hoax?
Momo is a disturbing WhatsApp "suicide" game feared to have taken the life of a 12-year-old girl.
According to the Computer Crime Investigation Unit in the Mexican state of Tabasco, the game started on Facebook where members were "challenged" to communicate with an unknown number.
Several users have reportedly claimed that Momo responds with violent images and players are threatened if they refuse to follow the game's "orders" and dares.
However, it is not clear what the number is, although several fake numbers have reportedly been posted online.
The avatar used by Momo is an image of a woman with grotesque features and bulging eyes.
It is from a sculpture created by special effects outfit Link Factory, and was recently featured in a display at an art gallery in Tokyo, Japan.
Speaking to BBC News Portuguese language site, Rodrigo Nejm of Brazil's NGO Safernet said it's unclear how widespread the game is but claimed it was most likely a form of "bait" used by criminals to steal data and extort people on the internet.
FOR KIDS: How to say no
It can sometimes be hard to stand up to your friends, so Childline offers the following tips on how to say no:
1) Say it with confidence:
Be assertive. It’s your choice and you don’t have to do something which makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
2) Try not to judge them:
By respecting their choices, they should respect yours.
3) Spend time with friends who can say ‘no’:
It takes confidence and courage to say no to your friends. Spend time with other friends who also aren’t taking part.
4) Suggest something else to do:
If you don’t feel comfortable doing what your friends are doing, suggest something else to do.
Any child worried about peer pressure or online worries can contact on 0800 1111.
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How many deaths has the Momo challenge 'suicide game' been linked to?
Cops in Argentina are linking the game to the death of a 12-year-old who took her own life and have issued a warning to parents, the Buenos Aires Times reported.
They are hunting for the “adolescent with whom she exchanged those messages”.
The National Police of Spain have warned against the "absurd challenges".
On August 28, 2018, the death of a teenager in India was also linked to the Momo "suicide game".
The 18-year-old, named locally as Manish Sarki, was found in a livestock shed which had the words "Illuminati" and "Devil's one eye" scrawled on the wall.
In September 2018, a 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy in Colombia killed themselves after reportedly playing the sick game.
Their deaths happened within a 48 hour period in the Barbosa in Santander in the west of the South American country.
SAFETY NET: How to keep your child safe online
The Internet can be an amazing tool to help children learn and play.
But with the digital world changing all the time, how can you make sure your child is safe?
Set up parental controls
- Parental controls can be used to block upsetting or harmful content, control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online
- The filters can help control what time of day your child can go online, and to stop them from downloading apps they are too young for
Talk to your children
- Have regular conversations about what your child is doing online
- Explore sites and apps together
- Talk about what personal information they should share online
- Create a family agreement about what behaviour is appropriate when they are online
Do your research
- Check through websites your child will use through the
- Change privacy settings and turning off location sharing
If you need help now, you can phone experts on the free NSPCC & O2 helpline 0808 800 5002
On February 27, it was revealed that UK schools had sent out letters warning of the challenge.
And a young girl, 5, from Cheltenham cut off her own hair after being "brainwashed" by the sick Momo Challenge.
Reports claim Momo has appeared in Mexico, Argentina, United States, France, Germany and now India.
The National Police of Spain have warned "it is better to ignore absurd challenges that come in the fashion in WhatsApp".
They added on Twitter: "Do not go into 'Momo'! If you record the number on your calendar, you will see a strange woman's face, it's the latest WhatsApp viral to come in vogue among teenagers.”
How can parents protect their children from Momo?
Carolyn Bunting, CEO of online child safety group Internet Matters, told The Sun parents should sit down and talk with their children.
She said: “The existence of online challenges such as Momo are clearly a matter for concern for parents.
"Our latest Back To School research found 7 out of 10 parents of Year 7 pupils are worried their children will be pushed into dangerous online crazes and challenges.
“While it is important not to panic and jump to conclusions without knowing all of the facts, it is also healthy for parents to sit down with their children and talk about all aspects of their online world.
“Myth or not - this reinforces the need for parents to be have regular, honest and open conversations about what their children are doing online and who they are talking to.”
What is the Michael Jackson inspired Momo video?
A twisted Michael Jackson "Momo-style" video has appeared online threatening to enter children's bedrooms screaming "hee hee".
Police in Mexico have been forced to issue a warning after the meme claimed a distorted Jackson will come into their home at 3am.
The creepy clip shows the bizarre statue slowly swinging from side-to-side as the song Smooth Criminal plays in the background.
As the camera pans in on the figure's waxy face and blood-red eyes, bone-chilling screams ring out.
Michael Jackson inspired Momo character sparks police warning after appearing online and threatening to enter kids' rooms screaming 'hee hee'
The meme reportedly originated in 2009 - the year Michael Jackson died - and has been branded 'El Ayuwoki' in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.
The name Ayuwoki comes from the song Smooth Criminal and is how the lyric 'are you okay' would be spelt phonetically in Spanish.
A police statement says: "Although a lot of people believe this is a kind of demon or ghost from the Internet, there is nothing supernatural in this matter.
"The kids and teenagers are looking to share it and believe in it because it is trendy, which could generate sleep issues, panic or anxiety."
According to reports, the Jackson meme has spread after the release of the Leaving Neverland documentary about alleged child abuse carried out by the singer.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Why is it appearing in Baby Shark videos?
Spanish police believe claim Momo has resurfaced in Baby Shark videos, which are singalong clips that receive millions of views.
According to local media, there is one video which features the character saying: “Hi, I am Momo. I want to play with you.
"Look for a knife in your kitchen and cut your little hands.
"If you do not do it, Momo will come after you.”
Is the Momo Challenge a hoax?
THE Momo Challenge is believed to have originated in South America.
The creepy face of a Japanese sculpture was hijacked and spread on WhatsApp - reportedly with instructions enticing children to perform a series of dangerous tasks including self-harm and suicide.
In recent days police and schools have issued warnings about the challenge arriving in the UK and a number of parents have said their children have been exposed to it.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom even told MPs the Government is "extremely concerned" about it.
But confusingly UK charities and internet experts have suggested the challenge is a hoax.
The Samaritans and the NSPCC said there is no confirmed evidence anyone has come to physical harm.
And YouTube claimed: "We have found no evidence of videos showing or promoting the Momo challenge on YouTube."
While it appears the challenge itself may not have reached Britain, sick copycats have been traumatising children by splicing a ghoulish video of a bug-eyed girl into Peppa Pig cartoons and Fortnite gameplay footage.
To contact , you can call the helpline on 0808 800 5000 or children under 18 can call 0800 1111
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